Commissioners table proposal to allow limited 'power feed' building at Ocean City Airport for 60 days amid concerns over moratorium and local benefits

Applicants seeking a zoning-text amendment asked the planning commission to recommend allowing a single, small "power feed equipment" building on commercial airport land—described as a building no larger than 1,200 square feet, not connected to water or sewer, and limited in equipment to avoid functioning as a cable landing station or a data center. Attorney Zach Williams and applicant representatives said the building would be limited by size and equipment and that they were collaborating with the Maryland Broadband Cooperative (MDBC).

MDBC President and CEO Drew Van Dott described regional broadband benefits, saying the cooperative would build new fiber assets alongside the applicant’s protective path and that at least one of the new fibers would be made available to coop members and local ISPs. Commissioners pressed on whether the amendment would effectively circumvent the county moratorium on cable landing stations and data centers and whether any contractual commitments exist that would guarantee local broadband benefits. Commissioner French and others said the text needed clearer limits (for example specifying number of cables or an explicit prohibition on terminating equipment) and documentation of public benefits; questions about NDAs and private contracts prompted calls for more staff review. After debate Commissioner moved to table the application for 60 days to gather additional legal, technical and staff analysis; the motion carried by voice vote.